Mater Centre's Construction On Course

Newcastle Herald

Saturday January 17, 2009

Gabriel Wingate-Pearse

CONSTRUCTION of a mental health centre at Calvary Mater Newcastle Hospital is on schedule with a full service expected to be operating from the new building in July.

Minister Assisting on Health (Mental Health) Barbara Perry was at the site yesterday. She was on a whirlwind tour of the Hunter, having earlier visited James Fletcher Hospital.

Ms Perry said the siting of acute services at the Mater would benefit patients, clinicians and medical staff.

The inpatient centre would have greater capacity than the units it would replace at James Fletcher Hospital, she said.

"The new 100-bed inpatient facility will include 10 additional acute mental health beds and four psychiatric emergency care centre treatment spaces," Ms Perry said.

Outpatient services and executive and support services will be in the old convent building and the nearby McAuley Centre, which are being refurbished.

Hunter New England Health chief executive Nigel Lyons confirmed that tenders for the construction of a 20-bed non-acute mental health centre planned for the James Fletcher site would be called soon, after some delays concerning heritage buildings.

Gabriel Wingate-Pearse

© 2009 Newcastle Herald

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